Following-block clutch for card-index or document files.



' PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904- C. ZIMMERLI. FOLLOWING BLOCK GLUTGH FOR CARD INDEX 0R DOCUMENT FILES.

APPLICATION FILED DEG-7. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

J'mrenio'y:

%; WW. 6 m;

UNTTED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

CHARLES ZIMMERLI, OF ROCHESTER, NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO VETTER DESK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER,

NEWV YORK.

NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF FOLLOWING-BLOCK CLUTCH FOR CARD-INDEX OR DOCUMENT FILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,716, dated. August 30, 1904, Application filed December 7, 1903. Serial No. 184,025. (No model.)

To all whomfl may concern:

Be it known that I, CrIARLEs ZIMMERLI, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Following-Block Clutch for Card-Index or Document Files, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an economical and efiicient clutch for card-index follower-blocks and other similar uses in which there shall be as few a number of parts as possible and in which also such parts, so far as possible, shall be held together in their 5 cooperative relation after the removal of the follower-block upon the track or guide upon which it is arranged to slide.

In carrying out my invention I make use of mechanisms conformed, arranged, and oooperating in the manner set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a track having a follower-block arranged to slide thereon and 5 to be held in any desired position on such track or guide-plate by means of a clutch in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a rear view of the clutching mechanism only. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clamping-plate 3 C. Fig. I is a perspective view of the sliding head D. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are views similar to Figs. 1, 4, and 3, respectively, of a modified form of clutch made in accordance with my invention.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, A is a track or guide plate upon which the follower-block B is ar 4 ranged to be guided, being held thereon by means of the head D, extending across and secured to the under side of the followerblock B and extending also part Way up on the right-hand face thereof. .The conformation of this head D is seen more clearly in Fig.

a, in which (2 represents the lugs engaging the edge and under side of the guide-plate A, which 1t will of course be understood is sultably supported above the base of a suitable receptacle, so as to admit of the head D slid- 5 ing freely thereon. Upon this head D are formed ears cl, having holes therein for the insertion of screws therethrough and into the under side of the block B. This head D extends upward part way on the right-hand face of the block B, as indicated, and is secured thereto by means of screws through suitable holes therein. At the upper edge of the vertically-disposed portion of the head D is seen a hook 2', having lateral projections 2" on the outer edge thereof. A clamping-plate C has punched therethrough an opening of a size corresponding to the neck or body of the hook 2 back of the just above mentioned lateral projections on the outer edge thereof. 5 Above this opening in the plate C there is punched and formed a tongue 0 by being cut or punched from the body of the plate C on two sides and partially also on its lower edge, the remainderof this lower edge, however, 7 constituting the upper edge of the hole which is punched through the plate C for the insertion of the hook 7?. This tongue 0 is so bent to the rear from the plate C as to admit of the insertion thereunder of the hook 7' on the head D, after which this tongue 0 is again forced back, so as to be smooth and level with .the corresponding portions of the plate C after'the hook 2' has been drawn down into. the recess therefor, as indicated. When this tongue 0 has been thus forced back to its proper position and after the insertion of the hook c' on the head D, such head D and the clamping-plate C are .held together in their normal operative positions. When the plate 5 C and head D have been thus connected together, the head D is secured upon the follower-block B, as indicated in Fig. 1. A spring g, having one end Within the recess the'refor in the block B, as indicated, operates 9 to force the upper end of the clamping-plate C to the right, and thus the lower end of this clamping-plate C is caused to engage the upper surface of the guide-plate A in such a way as to oppose a motion of such block B to the right upon the guide-plate A. By forcing the upper end of this clamping-plate C to the left against the action of the spring g the lower end of such plate C is released from the guide-plate A, and the block B, which at this time is grasped at its upper end with the lingers of the operator, is free to move in either direction longitudinally on the guideplate A.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the modification of my invention therein shown is especially adapted to use with a track or guiderod cylindrical in form, as seen at A in Fig. In this case the head D is modified in form, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, having an extension f for securing the same to the under side of the block B, and it also has two holes therethrough, 1 6, for insertion over the rod A. For use in connection with such a head 1) and such a guide-rod A a modified form of my clamping-plate, such as shown at C in F 5, 6, and 7, is used. Such clamping-plate U is secured upon the head D and in the manner already described in relation to plate (3 and head D. In this modification, however, the lower end of the clamping-plate C is formed to fit the upper surface of the red A. In other respects the operation of this modification of my invention is the same as that already above described.

What I claim is- 1. In combination with a guiding-plate and a follower-block arranged to slide thereon a hook carried by such follower-block and having projections thereon extending laterally and in practically the same plane therewith and a clamping-plate having an opening therein freely admitting the neck of such hook and having bent therefrom a tongue in forming an extension to such opening therein through which such hook with the projections thereon may be passed, such tongue arranged when forced back into position level with the corresponding parts of such clamping-plate to retain such hook within the opening in such plate therefor and the lateral projections on such hook arranged to prevent the withdrawal of such hook through such opening.

2. In combination with two elements, means for connecting such elements together whereby one may articulate upon the other, such means comprising a hook carried by one of such elements and having projections thereon extending laterally and in practically the same plane therewith, such second body having an opening therein freely admitting the neck of such hook and having bent therefrom a tongue in forming an extension to such opening therein through which such hook with the projections thereon may be passed, such tongue arranged when forced back into position level with the corresponding parts of such second body to retain such hook within the opening in such second body therefor and the lateral projections on such hook arranged to prevent the withdrawal of such hook through such opening.

CHAS. ZIMMERL I. \Vitnesses:

Aueusr VnT'ruR, OSBORNE F. GURNEY. 

